'Zombieland' Scribes Take On 'Cowboy Ninja Viking'

EXCLUSIVE: We’re already braced for Cowboys and Aliens, so how cool is it that the writers of Zombieland are taking on the tale of an assassin who mixes the skills of a cowboy with those of the ninja and the viking? Disney has purchased the feature pitch Cowboy Ninja Viking, with Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese writing the script. The basis is the graphic novel by AJ Lieberman and artist Riley Rossmo, published last year by Image Comics. Mark Gordon, Management 360 and Wernick & Reese are producing. A multiple personality disorder patient is trained to be an assassin with three different skill sets and the personalities that come with them tries to bring down the nefarious organization that made him. Wernick & Rheese most recently wrote the script for Deadpool, the X-Men spinoff based on the indestructible wisecracking character played by Ryan Reynolds in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. That script is out to directors. Deal was made by WME.

25 Comments

ugh • on Nov 6, 2010 2:55 pm

Could there be a less inspired idea?

my hero • on Nov 7, 2010 5:26 pm

ur absolutely right, ugh. i hate it when people set up original movie ideas that aren’t crappy sequels or board games with no plot. we should hang out together, maybe we can go to a double feature of ghost writer 2 and Hungry Hungry Hippo: The Movie. Text me!

Greg • on Nov 6, 2010 3:07 pm

Can someone tell me how is this a Disney film? Is the new regime trying to destroy the brand for good?

HW • on Nov 6, 2010 3:34 pm

Sounds like a bad, computer-generated parody. I seriously had to check my calendar to make sure this wasn’t April 1.

Reminds of “Vampire Cheerleaders,” yes, a movie that was actually made, but knew what it was, and stayed way down in Z-movie camp land.

Thomas croston • on Nov 6, 2010 4:04 pm

Actually the comicbook is terrific. The character actually has the three personalities of a cowboy ninja and a Viking living inside of him and they are in dialogue with each other. The above description doesnt do it justice.

Waiting for the collapse • on Nov 6, 2010 9:30 pm

you and your nerd tastes are ruining Hollywood get out

emperorsnewclothes • on Nov 6, 2010 5:12 pm

Sounds deeply, truly moronic. Zombieland worked in a Shaun of the Dead and Ghostbusters way, the threat was real but the leads were wiseasses. This sounds so stupid that no one but the Ernest Goes to Prison crowd that was left adrift since his passing would shell out 15 dollars a head for this cornball of lame.

This will make Scott Pilgrim vs. the World seem like a maga-hit.

tazmaniak • on Nov 6, 2010 7:09 pm

Dammit Disney.How about you focus on you Marvel properties and let someone else handle Image movies.

pro • on Nov 6, 2010 9:33 pm

Why are the writers producers on the project? And why 360 for that matter? People are getting ridiculous about producer credits. Are they really going to have producer duties? Did they do anything to help set it up? Mr. Gordon arent you head of the producers guild?

Jesus, you’re all so angry. If Nikki had posted the deal for Zombieland a few years ago, you would have shit on that, too. Zombieland was fun, original, and a blast. Give these guys the benefit of the doubt. They’ve earned it. It’s getting really bad in here these days. I’m starting to just tell my reps not to even inform DHD about my deals or greenlights or casting news because I’m so sick of all the haters. Spend a little more time with Final Draft and a little less bitching about other people’s success and you might find you have a whole lot less to be bitter about.

Alex • on Nov 7, 2010 6:49 am

A Final Draft advert? Do you work at the Writer’s Store?

cst • on Nov 7, 2010 4:36 am

The name reminds me of TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES.
YOU tell ME whether that’s a good thing.

R • on Nov 7, 2010 6:02 am

Congrats AJ Lieberman and Scott Agostoni!! Great to see all the hard work pay off!

Earned it? • on Nov 7, 2010 7:12 am

Nobody has earned anything. I’m sick of second rate titles trumping originality…and so should you.

Raheem • on Nov 7, 2010 7:28 am

and by the way folks disney is making this film under the dreamworks/touchstone pictures banner.

Raheem • on Nov 7, 2010 7:38 am

i’m mean back in march paramount pictures and michael bay’s production company platinum dunes picked up writer Nick Spencer and illustrator Ronald Salas comic book series Existence 2.0 and it’s sequel Existence 3.0 to be made into a movie and no one had a issue about so why is everyone having a issue with this comic being made into a movie by disney’s dreamworks pictures under the touchstone pictures banner.

getalife • on Nov 7, 2010 8:43 am

I’m with Less Bitter. Many posts read as though they were dashed off by bitter writers whose genius has been overlooked, or blowhard know-it-alls who act as though this sale was a personal affront to them.

Get some real problems. I don’t know the writers, but I loved Zombieland and I’m happy that people are buying and selling. That’s good for everyone. This sale does not affect your life. Save the hate.

HW • on Nov 7, 2010 6:56 pm

Don’t, try doing a less mind reading of the above posters and cool it with the “I’m taking the high road” attitude.

No, this sale does not affect many people’s lives. This is a website devoted to talking about MOVIES (and the correlative business of movie-making)! Which very rarely have any real affect on anyone’s lives. If you only want to discuss life-changing things, go hang out around the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders websites.

In the meantime, let the rest of us talk about movies and what we think does and does not look good. And no, just because this thing sold is not necessarily a good thing. “Transformers 2” was a box office smash; I don’t think that was a good thing for writers or actors or filmmakers or the ticket-buying public or anyone who cares about quality in cinema.

No, my life is not personally affected by this sale, but from the title and brief description I don’t mind saying it sounds like a piece of derivative crap.

Less bitter than you • on Nov 7, 2010 9:08 am

Yes, that was the point of my post. I make four separate cogent points calling for decency and fairness in the comments section of DHD, and that’s what you gleaned from it? That you think I’m shilling for Final Draft?

Alex • on Nov 7, 2010 12:55 pm

And you just did it again.

D.Z. • on Nov 7, 2010 6:08 pm

“It’s like Kick-Ass, but it’s PG-13!”

Q • on Nov 8, 2010 6:23 am

What’s wrong with you people… I’m really looking forward to this. Congrats to AJ and Riley. I’ll put forth my opinion when the show actually comes out… in the mean time, I’m going to enjoy reading some Cowboy Ninja Viking!!!

dwyerstuff@gmail.com • on Nov 8, 2010 8:49 am

This is a great writing duo. I have all the faith in the world they’ll make this an entertaining great movie.